Human Resources Manager

Salary: $42.65 - $55.47 Hourly
Location : City Hall 225 4th St N, Fargo, ND
Job Type: Full Time Regular (40)
Job Number:
Department: Human Resources
Division: Human Resources - SELECT THIS OPTION
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Closing Date: 12/4/2026 11:59 PM Central

Position Description

Under general direction, the Human Resources Manager performs a variety of advanced administrative, managerial, technical and professional activities to assist the department head with administering human resources programs, including Civil Service, recruitment, placement, orientation, compensation, classification, benefits, discipline, personnel records, personnel policies and procedures, employee training, HRIS and compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. The Human Resources Manager uses professional best practices and knowledge of rules and procedures in advising and providing guidance to city management staff. Incumbents perform a wide variety of assignments involving the administrative functions of the department. The Human Resources Managers work as a team and are each assigned to specific departments within the city and to specific areas of responsibility but serve as a backup for other Human Resources Managers. In addition, each Human Resources Manager is assigned a primary focus area for which they serve as the program manager.
Primary Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Manages the hiring process for city departments as assigned, including recruitment, selection and hiring.
   1. Coordinates with department heads on position openings including assistance with updating and creating accurate job descriptions, writing and posting ads, and screening applicants;
   2. Coordinates with department heads on the selection process including developing interview questions, coordinating interviews, supporting interview committees, coordinating testing and preparing job offer documentation;
   3. Coordinates new employee orientation
2. Assists with Civil Service System and Compensation
   1. Applies Civil Service rules to recruitment, interviewing, selection, promotion, transfer, reclassification, suspension, demotion, termination, and orientation functions;
      1. Completes job evaluations;
      2. Assists with managing classification records;
   2. Assists with monthly Civil Service meetings as needed.
   3. Assists with compensation.
      1. Prepares and submits data for wage surveys;
      2. Prepares compensation studies in advance of recommending pay plan adjustments;
      3. In conjunction with the payroll department serves as a resource for supervisors, payroll processors and employees, reviews payroll data for accuracy and completeness and makes changes as needed; adjusts accrual earnings; processes and reviews deductions for accuracy; maintains the Kronos Time and Attendance System;
3. Advises Department Heads, supervisors and employees on human resources policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state law and City policies.
   1. Provides support to department heads in dealing with employee issues within the departments; participates in department staff meetings, providing professional support for human resource issues and concerns such as training, policies, discipline, hiring, compliance, and ongoing department issues;
   2. Consults with the HR Director on employee disciplinary issues;
   3. Advises department managers on compliance issues such as FLSA, FMLA, ADA, military leave, etc.;
   4. Supports personnel actions on behalf of management.
4. Administers employee relations programs.
   1. Receives and responds to complaints, concerns and inquiries by investigating facts, making appropriate determinations, and providing information of both a routine and confidential nature requiring discretionary judgment and thorough knowledge of federal and state law, and City policies and procedures;
   2. Conducts exit interviews;
   3. Coordinates and monitors performance evaluation program.
5. Develops and recommends personnel policies and procedures; implements approved policies and procedures.
   1. Responds to changes in rules or laws and determine whether policies and procedures need to be modified in order to remain current and compliant;
   2. Responds to departmental initiatives, needs and requests; determines whether to recommend policies and procedures to assist management;
   3. Provides training to supervisors and employees on new and revised policies and procedures.
6. Administers employee benefits programs including health, dental, pension, deferred comp, LTD, EAP, and leave of absence programs etc.
   1. Coordinates benefits communications;
      1. Provides training on benefits for new employees, qualifying life events and status changes.
      2. Conducts the annual Employee Benefits Fair;
   2. Manages the Leave of Absence Program
      1. Coordinates FMLA, Non-FMLA leave, Military leave and Worker's Compensation leave with supervisor and ensures coding of LOA's is correct the time and attendance system;
      2. Communicates the policy, procedures and return to work process with supervisors and employees.
   3. Coordinates with third party administrators, benefit vendors and brokers;
   4. Coordinates with Finance department on various aspects of pension plan administration; establishes and maintains pensioner accounts; processes death benefit payouts and terminates pensions as necessary
7. Provides backup for other HR Team Members as necessary.
   1. Assumes additional responsibilities in the absence of the Director of Human Resources;
   2. Serves as a backup in the payment and reconciliation of benefits bills;
   3. Provides office coverage in the absence of the HR Associate including assisting walk-ins, answering phones and responding to miscellaneous requests.
8. Coordinates with the Safety Manager on workers' compensation claims.
   1. Tracks claims, return to work and transitional duty assignments, fitness for duty.
   2. Assists Safety Manager in safety programs and responds to questions.
9. Maintains various HR records including the HRIS system.
   1. Maintains employee records in HRIS system;
   2. Maintains Applicant Tracking System;
   3. Maintains Benefit Enrollment Platform;
   4. Maintains employee identification/access system; issues and controls ID badges;
   5. Assists with maintaining the HR department website and the HR and Supervisor Centers on the intranet by ensuring accuracy of content;
   6. Assists with the maintenance of electronic payroll and personnel records, confidential files;
   7. Tracks military service and related records;
   8. Provides FTE employee data to departments for use in budget development;
   9. Provides various reports and records to the HR Director.
10. Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
    1. Assists the HR Director and coordinates with the Communications & Public Affairs Manager in developing and disseminating employee communications;
    2. Frequently interacts with others in the work unit, the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;
    3. Interaction occasionally includes negotiations involving convincing the other party to do something to achieve a basic work related objective;
    4. Communications include responsibility for maintaining relationships with significant populations of employees.
    5. Responds to open records requests from the public and media.
11. Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
    1. Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
    2. Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
    3. When potentially unsafe conditions are observed, makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
    4. Actively participates in the safety committee.
12. Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

The job requires a bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field and a minimum of four years of HR experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. A certification in Human Resources is preferred. A police background investigation is required for the police department assignment.

Knowledge, skills and abilities include:

• Knowledge of human resource management best practices;
• Knowledge of federal and state employment and benefits legislation such as FLSA, ADEA, IRCA, ADA, FMLA, ERISA, AA, COBRA, Section 125, etc.;
• Knowledge of municipal codes governing Civil Service including recruitment, employment and benefits;
• Knowledge of governmental administrative practices including policy formulation;
• PC hardware and software skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook;
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, ensuring follow through and good judgment.
• Ability to read, understand, apply and comply with federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to all human resource functions;
• Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms, and have strong public relations skills;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with job applicants, employees, city officials, city staff, and the general public.

Physical Demands

Most work is performed in a normal office environment. Work is generally light with considerable variety. Daily work often involves moving between buildings and rooms. Occasional driving is required to attend meetings. The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue. There is considerable attention to detail and deadlines.

Activities include digital dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.

Work is classified as sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Sedentary Work: involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.